Continuous pressure separating device



R. M. rHoMPsoN 2,382,453

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SPAR'IIIG' DEVICE Filed March 29, 195s 11 sheets-sheet 1 Aug'. 14, 1945.

INVENTOR A RNEY Aug-14, 1945- R. M. THOMPSON 2,382,453

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARA'ING DEVICE Filed Maren 29. 1959 11 sheets-shear 2 Filed March 29, 1959 11 Sheejcs-Sheet 5 ATTQRNEY M, 945 f R. M. THOMPSON y CONTINUOUS PRESSURE` SPAATING DEVICE Filed March 29, 19:59

11 Sheets--SheelI 4 grigi rml- ATTORNEY Aug' 14 1945- R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Maren 29,' 1959 11 sheets-sheet 5 ug- 14, 1945- R. M. THoMPsN l CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING' DEVICE Filed' March 29, 1939 1 1 sheets-sheet 'r Ill'lllli INVENTOR /aeff A1 Mawson ATroRNEY Ausf 14; 1945 1 l R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE FiledMarCh 29, 1939 1). Sheets-Sheet 8 1N V EN TOR. /oberz M Z'ampson m9111945. R. M THOMPSON v S82-.A53

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Fiied March 29, 1959 11 sheets-sheet 9 llf/ IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 14, 1945.

'R; M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE F`i1edMarch 29, lsfs 1i sheets-sheet 1o l' INVENTOR. l erf 027405012 ATToEY lAug. 14, v1945.

R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE FJfLldMarch 29, 1959 -11 sheets-sheet 11 ipso/2 ATTORNEY liquids -from solids. s

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED eAr-ENT .fo-.Fries '-RobertiM-Thompson, Seattle, Wash.

My invention 4'relates to theartof devicesdef signed to separate luids'or'liquids from. other fluids or liquids of greater uidity and luidsor More'particularly, my; invention relates f'toi'a combinedpress and lter pressior -to a/presspde'- signed for continuous operation which is .fcharacterized by the development fof extreme'lyxh'igh pressures yand ypractical Yand eflicient operation. Particularly does my invention vrelate :Ito :simplifying and reducing the cost Ot'the'filtration oriiilitration step in'the industrialart's, .whichistep'at .present constitutes one of thelexpensive :operations in manufacturing. y

Itis vcommon :practice in -the vart of filtration .to refer tordevices' designed for the separation of materials by theapplicationof force'or pressure .to the materials-'from withouteas fpressesfwhile devices designed for the separation of Jmate'ri'als by having rthe force 0r pressure transmitted l through the `materials themselves Aas "filter presses.4 Filter presses are usually used where the amount `ofsolids to be separated is but a small. proportion 'of the'totalmobile mass-composed of said solids yand liquids lin which isaid f of the liquid composing said materialsft'o be'1- tered. The distinction between 'the two devices will develop clearly in the following paragraphs.

By rendering the ltering continuous, L'my Ade#- vice herein disclosed provides forutiliz'ing l"the `lter press principle lwith materials 'in whichthe .f

solids are the `predominant 'percentage "f *the material being treated. "Ihis is `just vthe reverse 'of the common practice. Heretofore, the devices in common use for materials having only a small 'percentage of liquids, have been Vthe press type rather than the filter press type. By providing for relatively excessively high'pr'essures and fluid tight chambers and continuous discharge of .cake in a 'filter press type lof device, the machine embodying my invention herein'set forth, has solved one of the difficult steps in manufacturing processes.

4In 'the` industrial arts yfiltration is very often a costly item inthe manufacturing process. This is due in `part to the intermittent character of the Yoperation of theflter devices'and to the llarge Vamount offmanual' attention- -which is'incident thereto. Moreover; yin ythe ltering process there are pointsatwhich the: expressed liquids are fmore clear than at'other points. `Theclearer `liquids are usually. obtained during the latter stagesv of the separatingprocess due .to thefact that these liquidspass through the filtering imediurnf after a deposit of the Vretained solids on theltering medium has accumulated, which retained ,solids usually form an important part of thev `filtering medium. The early liquids .expressed before the depositof. said solids .in tht-:form1 of aflteron .the iiltencloth or medium may'betcloudy. Byfsepar rately drawing 01T .the cloudy portion-,oi 4thefexpressed -liquid during the early ystages of the filtrationz-processa minimum quantity ofthe cloudy filtrate is retained with theclear iiltr-ate. Y Y Objection obtains tothe devices as heretofore designed yin the leakage-*that .takesplace \by vthe joints formed.between.y thev stationary parts .fand .moving parts.of-the device. .Alsoseriousobjection obtains tothe friction-developedfbetween said `parts. This friction lresults inI ,fexcessive wear-ing away offthe-lter cloth-aswell as ,-'other, parts. Furthermore, serious objectionfobtains in thatthe great -pressures developed 'are `-diiicult-rof @control and when developed locally 'or are uneven-ly fdistributed result in breaking thefmachina. i

In connection Vwith-the ltrationspart' of the manufacturingprocess; it fis frequentlyvdesirable to have a device 'which may-be employed :both as a pressandas 'a lter press. Thelterrdevices'fas :heretofore incommon use l are notcapable of .this 'dual use. .Thisz'involves `the 'installation v'of both "fdev-ices; which' involves great expense ras well as the =1oss ofimport'ant'floorspace;:4

[The Vgeneral objects 'ofmy,-prese`nt invention are to overcome lthe objectionsito prior I'devc'esof the 1nature h'ereinabovecp'ointedFout andto igenverally improve and Jincrease the efcie'ncyfo'ff'con'- tinuous presses fand'lter presses, as Iwe'll'as to provi-de vnew means and f modes of operation ."with new results at less cost. f c A Another lobj'ect of this-'inventionis toprovide a simple an'dji'cient drivingmeans-v forap're'ss or lterpressfo'f thisztype which vis capableo'ffw-ithstanding 'thefhe'avy'strains' to whi(:hfdrivlihgir'ieans 'of this nature is lsubjected,v whereby relatively lign-t -c'onstructionis possibi-'ey wherstrong driving force's'are involved. f

Another object is "tofprovi'd'e trackrn"embe1's which are substantially circular segments f'orl sup'- p'ort'ing slatb'el'ts fof a combined ipresslahd `i'ilter l.press ofthis type in the'pressurezonawhereby the gap between adjacent slats' due'totracl curva*- -ture.is kept 'constanty while the` 'slats :are dunder pressure, 'whereby'if a .i`1lter.b'elt-v iseniployedthe vsame-f is "protected lagainst-injury;[and i'itno lt'cr Ybelt is employed :the slats 'are :maintained inl iterof maximum compression in the machine may be maintained xed.

Another object is to provide a continuous presi sure separating device having readily adjustable automatic safety devices for preventing the slat belts from coming entirely together and injuring the filter belts in the event there is not enough material between the said belts' to hold them apart.

Another object is to provide automatic means for controlling the feed of material into the hopper of this machine, a construction made possible by reason of` the fact that substantially all pressures developed in the machine are counterbalanced within the machine.

Another object is to provide a continuous pressure separating device of this type in which the external frame structure is reduced to a minimum and the machine is adapted to be suspended from an overhead support, a construction made possible by reason of the fact that substantially all pressures developed in the machine are counterbalanced within the machine.

Another object is to provide a continuous pressure separating device in which the slat belts pass over guide members at the top of the machine instead of passing over sheaves or wheels, thus making it possible to give the slat belts any desired curvature at the top of the machine, making it unnecessary to provide room for the operation of sprocket Wheels or the like at this location, and providing a more simple and more inexpensive construction.

Another obJ'ect is to provide a continuous pressure separating device having continuously moving slat belts and having a feed hopper positioned above the slat belts and having filter belts which move with the slat belts and which travel down through the hopper over perforated walls and help to promote the feeding through the machine of some materials which contain a large percentage of liquid, said hopper being provided with vacuum means for drawing off a large percentage of liquid before the material passes into the press, thereby facilitating the feeding of material through the press and being further provided with means for varying the degree of the vacuum action exerted.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple and eicient means for moving the lter belt away from the slat faces at the discharge portion of the machine, thereby freeing both the lter belt and the cake of solid matter from between slat wings provided on the ends of the slats.

Another object is to provide slat belts having end closure wings on the ends thereof and having efllcient packing means between the wings to prevent leakage and further having efficient means to pick up liquid which finds its way out to the ends of the slat wings. l

Another object is to provide an efcient arrangement of duplex springs for use in this machine, said spring arrangement comprising strong heavy springs positioned to resist movement away from each other of the pendent frames carrying the slat belts and filter belts when a normal amount of solid matter is present between the slat and filter belts and lighter and weaker springs supporting the pendent frames Where the filter and slat belts are in close proximity to each other or in contact with each other and have substantially no solid matter between them, said heavier springs, being inoperative when the filter and slat belts are operating substantially in contact with each other thereby avoiding damage to the filter `belts such as will result if they are held in contact with each other by the pressure of the heavy springs while the machine is operating with substantially no solid matter between the filter belts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous pressure separating device having two frames, at least one of which is movable, said frames carrying slat belts and lter belts and being connected with each other by floating tie rods and being provided with resilient supporting means, such as hydraulic-pneumatic supporting means or spring supporting means positioned at one end only of the floating tie rods, the said resilient supportingy means at one end of the tie rods providing suicient resiliency for the two frames.

Another object is to provide a continuous pressure separating device which is provided with vacuum means for picking up solid material on the filter belts and withdrawing a portion of the liquid before said filter belts, with their adhering material, pass into the pressure area of the machine.

Since for some uses the price Ifor a large size machine designed to exert high pressures is prohibitive and unnecessary for removing a large percentage ofthe liquid, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous pressure separating device comprised of a plurality of separating devices, through all of which the same filter belts pass, the final separating device being of relatively small size but of heavy construction designed to exert Ahigh pressures, while the preceding separating devices are of relatively light and economical construction.

.Great difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the dry cake at the discharge end of the machine free from re-absorption of filtrate. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cake removing means which will overcome this difficulty, said means comprising a receptacle, the walls of which extend upwardly between the moving belts rotating cake removing means operatively disposed with respect to the upper edges of said walls of said receptacle, and bearing upon or in close proximity to the moving belt means and a discharge conveyor in the bottom portion of said receptacle.

A most persistent difficulty in separating the liquids from the solids is often present in devices as heretofore designed, due to the fact that a portion of the expressed filtrate will contact the discharging cake and bereabsorbed. An object of the present invention is to overcome this dimoulty and in doing this I provide a device of a character capable of discharging the cake upwardly or if the machine is placed on its side, t0 discharge the cake horizontally on its edge, thereby making use at all times of the force of gravity to maintain the filtrate apart from the cake and prevent its re-entry into the cake. Another object of this invention is to provide a continuous pressure separating device of the characterherein described, which is capable of discharging the cake upwardlybref-discharging the cake also lhorizontally onfits'edge. f Another object of the inventioniste-provide a continuous pressurel separating :device io'f l'-the character herein described, employing fmoving sl'at AIbelts v`formed of Islats that have knurle'd fen-d portions-positioned v-to make contact Withilter belts which fpass around the ends ofl-said fslats and are i supported vagainst resilient surfaces -on impervious moving side belts, the l-knurled 'surfaces onthe ends ofi,theslatspreventing slippage ofthe iilt'er belts'on the'slats :as said slats Jap- 'proa'ch the center `plane of the Sfilter chamberl'in movingtowards thew-dischargewportion l'of-fthe filter chamber, said vvfilter beltsf sliding on said resilient surfaces with thefirlninimum wear on the lter belts. A

:Another object of the invention is-to 'provide a structure in which side wings 4on'the slats -of the `Slat belts are eliminated and ipivotally mounted side plates are provided 'at the sides of the machine for completing the closure of the :filter .chamber and .to provide a yielding tie rod construction to maintain the side plates in proper operative relation to the edges of the slat belts, saidftie-rod construction preventing binding of the 'plates against the ends of the slats and counterbalancing vthe forces developed in -the lterchamber and exerted against the side plates.

The =above mentioned general kobjects of fmy invention, together withfothers'inherent inthe same yare attained by the mechanism' illustrated- `in'thefollowing drawings, the same being Eprevferre'd lexemplary forms of embodiment: offmyl invention, throughout which drawings .ilike ref'- leren'ce `numerals indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a sidelelevationof a continuous pressure separating v deviceA constructed in accordance with this invention.

f Fig. 2 is a--vertical sectional View of 'thecsame lFig. 3 is aside elevation, with .parts ini-section and parts omitted, looking at "thel machine in substantially the direction indicated .-by `broken line 3--3of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in-cross section., .substantially unbroken lines 4-44 land-5 5 respectively `of Fig. 1,'parts being shown in--plan Fig. 6 is a sectional view, Awith-.parts'in iplan, on a larger scale than Figs. 4 and and showing the slat belts -and lter belts Vand supporting -v means for the same.

Fig. 7 yis a detached elevation' of-one of the pendent trame members with the track lupon which the slat belts run attached thereto.

r Fig. 8' is `a view in cross section ofoneof'the slats used vin making up the slat belt, showing in elevation a fragment of a link belt ito which said -slat is connected and showing Ain elevation :a wing member that is AsecuredA tothe sl'at.

Fig. 9 is a View in outsidefelevati'o-n of 'one-lof l thevslat wingsadapted to be connected withthe end portions of some of the'slats.

Fig. l is a fragmentary view-in felevation showing `theback portion of one of the 'slats and the end of a slat wing which is secured lto-said v `slat showing a sealing means therefor. y y l adapted to discharg direction..

Fig.' '14 is ra sideelevation ofr'the-*device shown inFig-l. r f

15 ris :a plan fview. aof. .'axmodi'fledformrof slat having integral side wing members aridhaving a packinglls'trip 'extending llongitudinally of one edge thereof.

. 'Fi`g.=16 is a sectional of Fig. '6. i

Fig. 17 is a detached viewaiin-.fvertical section of a vacuum `type feed hopperiused 'fin-:connection with this machine. l f

' 'Figure'. 18 -is lardetached View 1in verticallsection .of a. modified I-form `of isaid vacuum; type .'feed hopper. l

*Figure l19-is a fragmentary-viewin vertical section 'showingthe lupper portion vof va continuous pressure separating devicer-provided-with a plug-like closing member Lpositioned between two 'moving'belts-and-adapted to Shave material -introduced therethrough. i

"FigureZO is a-fragmentary detail illustrating View'y on -brokeri line -l I 6 adoubleJspr-ing vmeans `adaptedito-be usedlin conposed in a substantially horizontal position -so as to-discharge acake'on its `edge.

Figurel 24is a fragmentarysectionalvievvl showing two opposed slats of slat belts "that are adapted for use in the 1mac`hine shown/1in Figlure 23.

A".Eig'ure' 25 is asomewhat'ldiagramma'tic -sideelevationof a continuous pressure separating device similar to the machine shown in Figures `1 to 210 but positioned sothatvthe intake of kmaterial isat the lower' end portion Land the discharge off solid Imatter atthe upper endfportion-of thefmachine.

Figure 26 is aview partly infsection and' partly in elevation of another type of "this vmachine e solid materialin =an upward Figure '27 is a fragmentaryside elevation 'of 'the -lower end portion 'of avcombined press 'and lter Lpress'constructed-in accordance 'with this invention, showingmean'sffor-taking care of liquid which discharges from the 'ends-ofslat -wings and showing a resiliently supported lter belt yon a `movable frame member. f

Figure l1218 is a detached View partly lins'ection and partly-in plan, taken substantially on breken Aline 28-28 of Figure 27'andsh'owing1the lmeans for-taking'care of the liquid 'whicndischarges vfromthe 'ends of the slat Wings. y f

' Figure 29'is a'fragmentary-sectional View showing 'slat belt and side'belt'meansof modiiiedform. Figure 30 is anfencl'view of a slatiof `the form 'shown'-inFigure29. y f- I *Figure 31 is acrossfsectiona'l view1of1a=-rnodiedjform of `slat vsupporting*fi-rame member 'in which H -platesareused toprov'idie great strength. 1v"Figure 32 islav somewhat Adiagrammatic Iview, with parts in section; showing a .modified -f'crmiof the invention `ini which.' the 'side 'wings orizthe; slats are dispensed with. and stationary 4Vside:.plates=po, sitioned .'adjacentfthe .ends.ofntlfie,v slats; of theislot belts and showing slats with foraminous overlapping filtering faces and rotary brush means for brushing off these faces at the lower end of the machine.

Figure 33 is a fragmentary vertical section, on'a larger scale than Figure 32, taken substantially on broken line 33-33 of Figure 32 and showing adjustable supporting means and driving means for the rotary brushes.

Figure 34 is a view partly in plan and partly in section on line 34-34 of Figure 33.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary edge view showing one of the rotary brushes in operative engagement with some of the slats.

Figure 36 is an elevation of fragments of two of the slats, showing the overlapping foraminous filter faces of said slats.

Figure 3'7 is a sectional view, with parts omitted, showing the side plates used in Figure 32 and showing the means for supporting the same.

Fig. 38 is a somewhat diagrammatic view partly in vertical section of a combined press and filter press provided with vacuum means for picking up material on the filter belts before said filter belts GHS pass into the pressure area of the machine and g5 further showing a plurality of presses positioned so that the material passes successively through one after the other of these presses whereby the material may be subjected to successively varying degrees of pressure.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 1l inclusive, which trate one embodiment of this invention, 40 designates an overhead frame of any suitable construction which is supported in any desired manner. tioned on one floor of a building and the lower portion of the machine may be suspended in a room below. Two cross shafts 4| and 42 are supported in movable bearing means 43 on the frame For instance, the frame 40 may be posi- 35 40. Two pendent frames 44 and 45 are suspended 40 a track spaced outwardly from the pendent frame 44 or 45 to which it is secured for guiding one portion of a slat belt, hereinafter described. Removable track members |05, |08, |09, having faces |09 which are substantially circular segments, are

secured to the inner sides of thel pendent frames for slat belts to run on as hereinafter set forth.

A rounded guide track 50, see Figs. 1 and 2, is provided at the top of eachpendent frame for the slat belts to move over. The rounded guide tracks are secured to the plates 49. A bearing bracket 5| is secured to the lower end portion of each pendent frame 44 and 45 and extends downwardly therefrom. Two shafts 52 and 53 are journaled in the bearing brackets 5| and a plurality of sprocket wheels 54 are secured on each of the shafts, 52 and 53, see Figs. 2 and 3.

Two endless slat belts are provided in connection with the respective pendent frames 44 and 45. These slat belts comprise link belts 55 and 56 operatively mounted on the sprocket wheels 54 and on the rounded guide tracks 50. Preferably other guide tracks 50 which also serve as tighteners are provided for thelink belts just below the inclined frame bars 48. Transverse ein the frame 40, see Fig. l. illus- The two endless slat belts are supported on the pendent frames 44 and 45 in such a manner that they cooperate with other parts ofthe machine in forming a pressure or filter chamber 58 having as two of its sides the two opposed and adjacent portions of the slat belts. This pressure or filter chamber 58 is wider at the top and converges toward the lower end in such a manner that material which is introduced at the upper end portion of the chamber will 'be subjected to increasing pressure as it moves downwardly in this chamber 58. The opposed portions of the slat belts which form walls of the pressure chamber move downwardly in the normal operation of the machine shown in Figs. l to 1l.

The bearing members 43 for the two shafts 4| and 42 are adjustably mounted on the frame 40 by dove tail means 59, Figs. l and 3 so that the two bearing members 43 may be adjusted toward and away from veach other to vary the distance between the upper portions of the adjacent laps of the slat belts. The adjusting means for these bearing members 43 is in the form of an adjusting rod 60, Fig. l, having right and left hand screw thread connection with brackets 6| on the bearing members 43. A fixed nut 62 on the adjusting rod 60 is positioned between rthe two spaced apart sides of a forked bracket 63 which is secured to When a wrench is placed on the nut 62, and the adjusting rod is turned, the bearing members 43 will be moved toward and away from each other. The bearing members 43 are in duplicate on opposite sides of the machine, see Fig. 3, and the adjusting means therefor is likewise in duplicate so that the shafts 4| and 42 may be equally adjusted at the two end portions thereof and parallelism of said shafts maintained.

The slats 51 are preferably of metal of substantially the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 8. These slats are provided on their front sides with longitudinally extending spaced apart ribs 64 forming between them channels 65 which extend longitudinally of the slats. The ribs 64 are inclined downwardly from front to rear so that liquid contacting said ribs will immediately flow .through the slat face 66 will be directed away from the slat face 66 by these knife edge portions and will collect in the channels and quickly be removed from the slat face.' The inclined ribs 64 merge with a web portion 61 which is positioned substantially in the medial plane of the slat. This web portion 61 has longitudinal ribs 68 on the rear side thereofsubstantially as shown. The top edge of the slat has a longitudinally extending groove 69 for the reception of liquid filtrate which finds its way between the slats and the bottom edge of the slat is shaped as shown in Fig. 8 so as to interfit this groove. Openings 10 extend from the bottom of the groove 69 to the interior of the slat and down through the ribs 64 so that liquid entering the groove 69 will find its way into the interior of the slat and all liquid entering the slat will find its way through the openings l0 to the lowermost channel or compartment 65 thereof. 'I'his liquid will be discharged from the lowermost compartment slats 51 are carried by the link belts 55 and 56. 75 through openings 1| positioned near the ends of the-Slat' and communicatively connected with discharge tubes 121. The discharge tubesv 12 have outwardly curved end portionsl which are positioned within uprightf'conduits 13, Figs. 1, 4, and 5, during the time the tubes 12 are moving downwardly through'the portion of their travel in whichl'they liquids are being expressed. The expressedsliquid flows Adownwardly through these conduitsv intowany suitable receiving means, e. g., the conduits 13 at the same side of the machine as. receivingA meansr14 may drain thereinto and the conduits113 at the same side of the machine as pan |20vmayrdrainthereint'o or the conduits 13 may drain intofacommon means. The upright conduits 13l preferably haveinclin'ed cross plates or louvers 13' therein positioned to .direct liquid awayfrom the-tubes 12 as1 soon-'asit leaves the tubes, see: Figs. Grand 16.

ForA the. purpose of closing lthe filter chamber 58' at the edges I provide relatively flat slat wings y 15' which are. rigidlyI secured by transverse tie rods 16: to the ends' of the slats ofv one of the slat belts and extendat 'substantially' right' angles to the plane of the: face of the' slats and are adapted to receivetherebetween thesl'ats of the other slat beltwhen theA slats arek moving in those portions of ltheir path'of travel iii-which they cooperate to.` form'the filter chamber'.' Preferably the slat wings'. 15: areinclinedl downwardly relative tozth'erhorizontal-'where' the slats'4 are in the position-in which they cooperate in forming the filter chamber, as shown' in Figsi 1,`2, 8, and 9.A This will cause liquidv which escapes between the slat wings to becaught 'in a trough 11 provided on the outer side of each slat wing `and discharged from the end of the slat wing into any suitable' conduit, such as# the-conduit 18 shown in Figs.

1l and 6.' The troughs 1-1 also serve to reinforce and` strengthen the slat wings 15. Preferably the top andi bottomdge's of the slat wings arey in. clined'y as shown at 119,` Fig. l1-, and rubberipack-i ing strip means 805 may be-provid'ed in connection-fwith'these inclined edges 19 to provide a tighter liquid' seal between these inclined'edges.

Almodiedtform of" packing means '80 is shown embedded in each end thereof andv another slat |42`ofcnannellshape adapted to receive the slat |40'.l The slat |42 is'similar to the slats of Figs. 1 to- 9 which have the slat wings thereon except thatv the slat |42'fshown in Fig; 15 is of one piece integral construction. Preferablythe wing portions ofthe` slat= |423 shown in Fig. 15 are flared apart slightly'y toward -their outer ends so that; the ends' of.1r the slat I40-wil1`seal more firmly with the wing porti-ons of slat |42 as the slat |40 moves into the-Slat |42?. Also preferably a rubber sealing, memberl |43 extendscompletely across oneV edge-'of the slat'- |42,'includingv the wings'thereof, as shown in Fig; 15;' One slat belt on the machiney is made lup of the slats |42 and the other sla'txbeltaisf'madeup of the slats |40.

Thetwo pendentA frames" 44l and 45 are connected'withweach' other by a plurality of oatingly; mounted tie*y rods.' 8 |4 which are' positioned atrthe-fsides of'the frames 44 and 45, see Figs. 1,v

4, andV 5 and extend throughftheend portionsroi. rigid cross bars A82-.and have-rn1tsw83l provided' thereon.` The cross bars 82- are of :very strong 'and rigid construction and; said crossbars rest onand aresupported by the horizontalfdrame bars'.. A plurality of strong and heavy compression rsprings 84 `are interposed between the cross-bars 821 and the` pendent frames 44 and 45gl As the pressures of the material will fbe'greatest towardthe ylower end portions' of the pendent frames moreof 1 the tie krods and; springs arewprovided towardvsaid lower'endfportions as shownin Figsrfl and:2. By th'exuse ofthe 'floating tierods the pressureof the material against 'the two.A pendent vframes 'is counterba'lanced" and the necessity `for-*heavyv externa'l frame means` is 'donezaway'withw The 'slat beltswhichV are fcarriedf-by :thel :two pendent frames 44 and-45 serve-.l as. supports for filter belts 85, one of which` iscprovided'inwcone' nection with each slatbelt.-v Theses'lterfbelts are herein shown as endless-belts passing. soon tinuously around the slat'belts and through.v the filterl chamberY `58 and `over :guide rollers 86and 81` at the upper' end portion of the'machineand' other guide rollers 88-atthef1ower endvportion'of the' machine. Obvi'ouslyothese lterbelts may be in-the formof strips insteadof' endlessibelts or-they may be ofother forms and twoY or-more of" said filter belts or stripsmay 'bef superimposed ii`. desired. The lter belts are moved along with the slat belts in the operation of `the-rrrachine and do-not require any other driving means.-

. It has been pointedout that the-tracksf-IUS- |'08-I'09- are circular arcsfthroughoutl-that pord tion f of their length.l in lwhich they carryheavy pressures. This'supports' theslat belts-on'vcire cular varcsv throughout-thefarea where vthey are subjected to the-heavypressures- Y The lter belts are'supportedlbyftheslat-belts and since the curvature :of the slat beltsk does. not change. inthe area of heavy pressure there willbe-notendency' to stretch and -tear'the -lter belts 'When themachineis to-be usedforextracting liquids *from* materials capableofbeing.- fedA through the machine-bythehead of--the material plus the action-of the moving,-beltsaaconvergent hopper is-preferably provided. at the -top portion of the machine.vk Thishopper-comprisestwo convergent5 preferably curved side walls` 89- Figs. 1, 2, and 17 over which thelter-beltspass downwardly,` astheyenter the lter chamber.` The curved-side wallsv 89 of thehopperhave perforationsl 90 therein or are of porous construction so that a suctionmay be exertedf through said'walls "1 and through the lters belts which cover theinner handling some materialsrandmakesit possible tosuccessfully feed 'some materials throughfthe machine by ygravity which-might otherwise have to -be fed by pressure-through ya plug likev closing. member of'a` formi hereinafter described. Wall i. means A9 l; is" spaced Aoutwardlyv fromr the inclined perforated hopper wal1s=89 vand united-therewith to -form chazr-ibersY 92-for the reception offliquidA 'and-within'which' a" suction may be exerted to draw off'iiquid from: thehopper through'the'lter belt-s.y Obviously the liquidthusdrawn off'will with` the lower portions' of` the chambers 92' 'and preferablyextendto a suitable suction type pump,

-' not shown; soithat suction-'may lieexerted` in the chambers 92 andthe liquid drawn off therefrom. Preferably adjustable non-perforated plates 94 of thin metal are provided within the convergent hopper, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 12 to cover a portion of the-perforated hopper walls. Ihe filter belts-pass overthese plates 94. By adjusting these plates 94 to vary the-exposed perforated area of walls 89 to which the filter belts 85 are exposed it is possible to vary the location at which suction is exerted on the lter belts and to subject a greater or less area `of these filter belts to suction to secure the best operatingconditions for' the material being handled. Bolts 95 operable in slots 96 in the plates 94 may be used to provide for the adjustment of the plates 94 as shown in Fig. 17. Adjustment of the plates 94 will vary the degree of vacuum exerted through the filter belts by varying the filter belt area subjected to the suction.

In Fig. 18 I show `somewhat. diagrammatically an automatic means for adjusting' the position of plates 91, which corresponds in purpose and function to the plates 94, over the perforated wall 9| of a hopper. This automatic means is controlled by the suction in the chamber 92 and ad- .iusts the plates 91 in accordance with the suction in the chamber 92. The plates 91 used in this instance are thin and flexible and capable of being readily bent and of passing around rollcrs 99 and through guides 98. The automatic plate adjusting means comprises a cylinder 99 having a piston therein, s ee Fig. 18. A compression spring |0| is provided back of the piston |00 urging the pistonin one direction. pipe |02 connects the end portion Vof the cylinder 99 adjacent the spring |0| with the adjacent suction chamber 92. A piston rod |03 secured to the piston |00 extends outwardly through one end of the cylinder 99 and is secured to the flexible plate 91 whereby movement of the piston |00 will be communicated to the flexible plate 91. rollers 98 and guide means 98 serve to prevent buckling of the flexible'plate 9,1. When there is no minus pressure 'in'the chamber 92 the spring |0| will movethe piston |00 a maximum distance to the right, Fig. 18, and cover a maximum area of the perforated wallf 89. When suction is exerted in the chamber-'92 it will be communicated tothe cylinder 99 and will act on the piston |00 so as to oilset some of the force of the spring |0| and move the piston |00 tothe left from the position shown in Fig. 18, thus mov-v ing the lflexible plate 91 upwardly in the hopper and uncovering a larger area of the perforated surface of wall 9| so as to tend to reduce the built un suction. Preferably means, such as a screw |04, is provided for adjusting the pressure of the spring |0| so that the device may be set to maintain different desired degrees of vacuum or suction in the chamber92.

The track means |05,A|08, |09 on the inner sides of the pendent frames 44 and 45 for the slat belts to run on is 'preferably removable from the pendent frames. This makes possible a quick Thecured to the pendent frame. This provides a supporting means from which the track assembly may be quickly and easily removed to permit replacement thereof by tracks of different shape. In this machine it is desirable to use tracks each having a. section that is substantially a circular segment. Where curved tracks are thus used it is not possible to adjust the position of the tracks in the machine for different compression ratios without varying the location of they point of maximum compression, that is, the point at which the two tracks approach nearest to each other. It is desirable to avoid varying the location of this point of maximum compression because these machines are of heavy and expensive construction and to design a machine in which this maximum compression point could be varied would require still heavier and more expensive design. 'I'he provision of the removable track which can be quickly and easily replaced enables me to construct a machine in which the compression ratio can be changed Without varying the location of the point of maximum compression, thus adapting the machine for the handling of different materials requiring different compression ratios and providing a machine of greater utility and suitablevfor a wider variety of uses as well as making a saving in construction costs. I have shown three sets of bars |08 and rails |09 secured to each plate |05. Each of these sets comprises two plates or bars |08, welded or otherwise secured to the plate |05 in a plane perpendicular to the plate and a track rail |09 secured to and supported by the bars |08. The link belts 55 and 56 to which the slats 51 are secured are provided with rollers I0, Figs. 2 and 6. which run onthe track rails |09. Each track |09 is a substantially circular arc throughout the entire distance where the lter belts and slat belts are subjected to heavy pressure. For instance the tracks |09 of Figs. 2 and '7 would be circular arcs from their uppermost ends approximately to points A below the location B of maximum pressure where the two filter and slat belts are nearest together. The circular arcs extend far enough below the location B of maximum pressure to allow for relief of pressure and the tracks |09 may then follow more abrupt outward curves.

As the material progresses downwardly through the machine the liquid content is squeezed out through the filter belts 85, and the solid matter is compressed and forms a cake within the chamber 58 whose sides areformed by the lter belts and whose ends are formed by the slat wings 15. somewhat after it passes the point B of maxlmum pressure where the lter belts come nearest together and it will have a. tendency to be carried around the lower sprocket wheel 54 over which the link belt 55 passes, due to frictional engagement of the edges, of the cake with the slat wings. To overcome this tendency of the cake to be carried around by'the slat wings, I provide means for holding the filter belt 85 outwardly and thus freeingthe lter belt and the cake of discharging material from the slat wings 15 at the location where .the link belt 55 begins to move around the sprocket wheel 54.v 'Ihis means comprises a shoe positioned at the lower end of the machine and having a plurality of rollers |2 which engage with the inner side of the filter belt 85 and hold the same outwardly. This presses the cake of discharging material out from 4between the slat Wings with which the This cake will l expand manner; aszt-heispringsgffof' Figsr-i to.. 5. Thev spring fmeans'shown in Fig. 7.2.0 consist' ofaV strong'y and heavy:r outer spring" |148.; and a weaker inneredges of' saidv cake engage and; causes: the cake of'material to discharge in the proper way without needless strain on Ithe filter belt. The shoe is pivotallysupported by-barv means Il! whichl is secured to: a bridgel member H4 that extends crosswise between two lever arms H5, only one el which is shown. The Alower rolls 88 around which the lter belt 85.1 passes are rotatably mounted inthe frame'formed by lever arms ||5 and; bridge means ||4= and-are free-to. move slightly tomaintain an even tensionon-the lter belt. The lever arms ||5 are'fulcrumed on pivot means H6. and are-yieldingly engaged by' compression-spring` means H1' whereby the rollers |2fand-rolls 88 yieldingly are supportedfagainst, thelterwbelt 85'.-

A pan: for receivingliquid isprovided-belowv therolls 88` and. the conduits 13,- shown in Figsl, 4, -5 and 6 discharge into this-pan; Another pan 14ffor the receptionfof Vliquid is providedbeelow the slat belt 56| A deflector member `|22 yis provided for intercepting the discharging" cake of solid material and directing it to 'onefside of.l the machine.`

'I'he driving meansfor thecombined-linlr` and.

slot'belts is shown in Figs. 1, 4,/-and=\5.. This driv.v ing means is arranged to apply the-driving power at the` lowerA endof themachine to thefshaf-ts 52- and- 53; The-drivingmeans is shown. in duplicate on the two sides ofthe machineandi'thev parts thereof',Y where shown,- are correspondingly.' numbered on the two sides of` the 'machinau Obviously the-driving means.A will onlyneed -to be `provided on.l one side of'thel machine `for 'some' classes of work. Thedr-ivingnmeans at vonefside of the machine; comprises.- two sprocketfi wheels |23. and |24 secured'l 'on the-twofshaftsf 52 4andfy53,` respectively and connected. by link: belts-|25r with. sprocket pinionsvl 26" and.l |21. on shafts |28v and:

|2-9-lrespectivelyr The shafts|28A` anden?)t are respectively provided large'gearwheels 38 .-and: |3| which mesh with eachfother. The'gearwheel |31 meshes with a pinion- |32- on .a-countershafti I 33. The countershaft l3-3fhasfa large'gearw-.heell |34 thereon-which meshes with a pinion :|351-on a driven shaft |36.- The `shaft |36' is -driven-byY link belt means |31; see Fig; 5, from a Varia/ble'Y speed gear |38.,y the detailsi ot-which arenotshown.- Afmotor'- |39 drives the variable speed gear |38:v l

Fig; 19 shows fragmentsV ofA two lterbelts 85I and fragments of two slatbelts composed of `'slats 51. These slat belts and lterfbeltsmay be iden tical with the slatbeltsand filter'beltsshowny in:

Figs 1 to 8. A plug-like 'closing memberi'sopeleratively disposedbetween these slatl anda-filter'v belts to facilitate the introduction of liquid under pressure between thelter'belts. This plug-like closing member may beused to facilitate yfeeding the machine when the material has a large. percentageof liquid. This plug-like closing member. comprises a hollow housing portion |44. to whichis secured a hollow tapered. plugv member shaped to` 'lt between the lter'. floeltsandY having. expansible means |46 on its lower end portion. The expansible means |46. is adapted to expand against the lter belts like a, cup leather in a pump piston to provide sealing means for liquid under pressure. The hollow housing portion is of relatively large size and is connected with a relatively large conduit |41 through which liquid under pressure may be introduced.

Fig. 20 shows-a modified form oflspring means adapted tetbe interposed between the cross-bars 82/and the pendent framesfM 0r 45 inthe same- Ill) spring |49 of.smallergdiameterandfgreaterlength than the outer :spring- |48 .positionedI .within the.r

outer spring.- Whenthetwopendent frames areY in close proximity or are in- Contact" with each` ot'herfthey `are supported by theweaker'sp-rings |49fonly and evenV iflthatwofilter belts. operate in- Contact with eachother'` thewpressure; of the weakeri'springsg 49` willr not be enough to damage theseflterrbelts. As'soon asi-the pendent frames begintogmove apartvdue to thepresenceof solid matterebetween-.them the ystronger springs' 48 Iare brought zintousefagrdroffer the necessary amount of; resistance for eiricientlteringoperation.

Elige-21, shows another-,modified form of spring means: adapted'tobe-interposed between a cross` barfZ-andya filter belt. supporting frame 44 or 45:3` Two-flanged fittingsE |5| and |52- are pro.- vided atftheopposite ends of-v alarge strongu spring; |5|)` with-the'. ends:V of-v the'springpressing against theangespff the fittings. A bolt |53 has a head portion movably/disposediri the fitting 5|'. The end port-loriV ofpsaid'bolt |53 is threaded'into the fitting@ |52 soithat the bolt'limits the expansion ofi the spring; Thefbolt -|53fis adjusted'vv so` that itwil-lI stopttheiexpansion of-'the spring just' be-y fore the two,` filter beltv supporting frames make conta'ctf thus` preventing injury'to the filter belts when no solid;materialisl between the1ter belts. The bolt,v being slidablein thelfitting |5 |'wi1l not interfele` withathe operation, of thel spring |58.-l

withinits'normal Zone offmovementfbut will` act asastop--means to limit the expansion of saidf springand prevent injury tothe filter-belts;

material conveyor-y |55;y driven by amotor-|561is positioned;todelivermaterial into hopper-154i A. belt; |51 operableon` belt pulleys |58 and |59fmayserveaaslaldriving connectionwbetween the motor |56 fand; conveyor l|55 A- plate or trip member |6|lfis positioned ,within the` hopper 54- adjacent oneside vthereofandis fulcrumed ona pivot 6 AiswitchA lever 1| 8,2;isv rigidly-connectedfwith the g; plate member |60 and oscillates-about pivot" |6|.

Gravityfactingyon the switch lever |62jand. on a weight |63ltends tolmove the outer end'portion of-,-.the switch. lever;` downwardly and.' tends` to movefthe' plate member |60' away from the walll -v of thehopper.- An, electric contactzmembe'r |64 .oni theyswitch lever' |624is movable into and out ofcontactiwith a xed; contact member |65xto openandl.close' an electriclcircuit through wires |66 to the motor |56. hopper" |541' is below the level of the lower-'end portion ofzplate |60; gravity will close the circuithorizontal..operation the slatsotv the slatL belts-` arefconstructedas shown/inFig. 24 andthe press- 1s1 positioned-sorthat thetwo slatbelts-are disposed When -material vin the alongside of each other with the slats of the belts in a generally upright position sothat they will discharge a cake of solid material on its edge. In this connection it is to be noted that the press will operate in almost any inclined position in which it may be placed and may bepositioned as shown in Fig. 25, so that the discharge of solid matter is at the upper end portion of the press. The slats |61, shown in section in Fig. 24, and diagrammatically in Fig. 23, have liquid deflector members |68 which extend crosswise of said slats and are inclined downwardly to direct liquid away from the foraminous slat faces |69 and toward the rear of the slats, Liquid discharge openings |68' are provided in the back portions of the slats |61. In this type of machine the slat faces may be constructed so as to constitute the filtering members. Side wings |10 are shown on'one of the slat belts in Fig 24. Frame means |14 supports th'e belts formed by slats |14 for movement. A hopper |1| is shown in Fig. 23 as a means of feeding this machine, said hopper having a discharge chute |12 positioned to deliver material between th'e two slat belts of the machine.l Obviously a pluglike closing member with pressure feed which operates in the manner of the pluglike closing member sh'own in Fig. 19 may be employed instead of the hopper |1. Fig. 25 shows a machine of this type disposed in a position to discharge the cake upwardly. 'Ihe inlet of material is at the lower end portion of the machine and the discharge of solid matter is at the upper end portion. In Fig. 25 numerals |13 and |14 indicate diagrammatically two slat and filter belts movable in the directions indicated by the arrows, and |15 indicates a pluglike closing member which may be of -the character of the pluglike member shown and described in connection with Fig. 19, positioned between the lower end portions of the belts |13 and |14 and having a material inlet pipe |16 connected therewith. Positioning the machine so that the discharge of solid matter is above .the level at which the material is introduced helps to prevent reabsorption of liquid by the solid matter nearthe point of discharge of the solid matter because all liquid will tend to drain downwardly by gravity and will be completely removed from the discharging solid matter. A transversescrew conveyor |15 may be provided at the upper end or belts |13-|14 to discharge solid material. v

Fig, 26 illustrates another continuous pressure separating device of the same general type as the machine shown in Fig. 4and in which the direc` tion of movement of the solid material is upwardly and the discharge of the cake of solid material is at the upper end portion of the machine. In

Fig. 26 two endless traveling slat belts 390 and 39| are operatively disposed on sprocket wheels 392 and 393 positioned at th'e upper end portion of the machine and slat belt guides 394 and 395 positioned at the lower-'end portion of the machine. Tracks 396 and 391 supported by springs 398 which bearv against'cross bars 400 support the slat belts throughout the pressure area. Preferably the cross bars 400 are connected at ther sides of th'e machine by transverse tie rods, not shown, which correspond to the tie rods 16 shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Also preferably the frame 396 is held stationary and the frame 391 is pivoted on a pivot member 40| and is swingingly movable' toward and away from the frame 396. Two endless filter belts 402 and 403 are provided. The lter belt 402 passes around the slat belt 390 and over guide rolls 404, said filter belt passing through the pressure chamber 405 in contact with slat belt 390. The filter belt 403 is longer than the filter belt 402 and passes `around the same slat belt 390 and around vthe shorter. filter belt 402 and passes through the pressure chamber 405 in operative filtering engagement with the slat belt 39|. Also said longer filter belt passes over guide rollers 406 and outside of a discharge hopper 401 and outside of and around a combined feed hopper 408 and feed chute 409. The material being filtered is disposed between and maintains the belts 402 and 4 03 in spaced relation after they leave pressure chamber 405 and until they reach upper rolls 404 and 406. The feed ch'ute 409 is curved on its bottom portion and forms a guide over which the outer filter belt 403 may slide, A driven feed screw 4|0 is provided in the feed hopper 408 and feed chute 409 to feed material through' the feed chute into the press. The discharge end of feed chute 490 preferably has a sealing member 4|| thereon to maintain sealing engagement with the filter belts. This device is designed to handle material which is coarse enough and has enough solid matter therein so that it can be fed with a. feed screw. Where the material is of such thin consistency that the screw conveyor is not practical, then fluid pressure feed means fs used in connection with plug means means of the form shown in Fig. 25. The discharge hopper 401 has a driven conveyor screw 4|2 in the lower portion thereof to discharge material. Two driven rotary brushes 4 |3 and 4|4 are positioned just above the discharge hopper and in contact with the filter belts 402 and 403 to brush the discharging solid material'of of said-belts. The rotary brushes 4| 3 and 4 4 are driven in the directions indicated by the arrows. Any suitable driving means, not shown, may be connected with brushes 4|3 and 4|4 and conveyor screws 4|0 and 4|2. Any suitable driving means is connected with the sprocket wheels 392 and 393 at the upper ends of th'e slat belts 390 and 39| for driving said slat belts.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 26 is adapted for feeding material that can be fed with a screw conveyor whereas the apparatus shown in Fig. 25 is adapted for feeding material that has to be pumped or fed by liquid pressure. In both Fig. 25 and Fig. 26 the solid material is fed in a generally upward direction, the solids are discharged at the upper portion of the machine and the liquids discharged downwardly through liquid discharge means of the form shown and described in connection with Figs.V 1 to 1l. This reduces to a minimum the danger of liquid coming in contact with and being re-absorbed by the cake of solid material after such liquid has once been expressed therefrom, since the force of gravity is at all times operating to remove the filtrate from the vicinity of the cake.

In connection with the device shown in Fig. 26, where both belts extend around one side portion of the machine, the removal of the cake is facilitated as it is removed from the discharge between the two filter belts which thereby provide a conveyor means for the cake.

Having one frame 396 fixed, as shown in Fig. 26, simplifies the provision of the feed and discharge mechanism for the reason that no provision is necessary for taking care of variations due to movement of the frame, the movement all being confined to the opposing frame 391 which may be entirely free, or for the most part inde pendent of the feeding and discharge mechanism. The frame 396 may be a portion of the main supporting frame vof the machine and the frame 

